by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

A Florida-based private prison operator has withdrawn from its deal to land naming rights to Florida Atlantic University's football stadium, ending weeks of controversy, demonstrations and outcry from the FAU student body and surrounding community.

On Feb. 19, the university announced a $6 million deal with GEO Group â?? parceled out at $500,000 annually over 12 years â?? to rename the yet-unnamed facility "GEO Group Stadium." The deal's detractors had another name for the stadium: "Owlcatraz."

The university's decision was heavily protested on campus, with groups like the Stop Owlcatraz Coalition pointing out GEO Group's spotty track record of investigations, violations and fines at several facilities. One such GEO Group facility, the Broward Transitional Center, is located less than 10 miles from the university.

In announcing the company's decision to withdraw the offer, GEO Group chairman and CEO George Zoley, an FAU alum, cited the "distraction" caused by the controversy.

"What was originally intended as a gesture of GEO's goodwill to financially assist the University's athletic scholarship program has surprisingly evolved into an ongoing distraction to both of our organizations," Zoley said. "We employ many FAU graduates and Boca Raton community members. We take pride in running a well-respected company and are proud of our long-term support of the University."

The university's flip came as a surprise: As recently as Friday, the chairman of the university's board of trustees insisted that "he'd seen no evidence of wrongdoing by the firm," according to Michael Vasquez of the Miami Herald.

The tipping point came Monday, when a group of 60 community members opposed to the deal delivered a letter to FAU president Mary Jane Saunders and the board of trustees. After delivering the letter, student protestors held another march in front of the stadium. GEO Group official withdrew its offer early Monday evening.

The student body is pleased by the decision. "This is a victory for FAU," Gonzalo Vizcardo, an FAU student and a protest organizer, said to a South Florida ABC affiliate. "This is a victory for students, faculty, staff, alumni, everybody at FAU."

"I can't believe this happened," another FAU student told Vasquez. "We're so glad to hear that our university has decided to do what's right."

Over at Deadspin, Barry Petchesky sums up the situation neatly: "This is a historic moment: we've finally found an industry too shady even for college sports."